Padres First Baseman finds Success through Attitude and Faith

Adrian Gonzalez, the three-time all-star first baseman for the San Diego Padres has Psalm 27:1 inscribed on his bat. That Bible verse reads, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

“It is a reminder that when you are in a tough situation, God is in control,” Gonzalez says. “I put it  with my autograph in hopes kids would ask what that is and take time to read it. Hopefully it will lead them to the Bible.”

Gonzalez gives credit for his success

Gonzalez tries to take whatever opportunity comes along to talk about and show his Christian faith. “I have success in baseball, but I know that is because of the Lord,” he says. “I know my preparing, my hard work definitely plays a part, but it would not be done without Christ.”

Gonzalez, who signed right out of high school with the Florida Marlins in 2000, signed with the San Diego Padres in 2006. When asked about his best pro-experiences, he says, “Three things come to mind: being drafted number one overall in 2000, being called up to the big leagues for the first time in 2004, and playing in the playoffs in 2006 with the Padres.” His major league debut was April 18, 2004, and his first major league homerun was April 25, 2004.

He wanted to have a strong marriage

When Gonzalez married his wife, Betsy, his desire to have a strong marriage led him to a deeper commitment in his faith. “I felt in 2003 I needed to get deeper in my relationship with the Lord. And my wife, Betsy, had a strong relationship at the time, so as a married couple we decided we should have our relationship with the Lord be the foundation of our marriage.”

Dave Deal, AIA staff member and spring training chaplain for the Padres in Arizona, adds, “Adrian and Betsy understand two things really well: First, they understand the significance of the platform that they have been given to share their faith in the Lord, as evidenced by their sharing at Faith Days at ball parks around the country and by producing and buying testimony cards they give out to people. Second, they understand the responsibility to provide spiritual leadership on their own team, as evidenced by the Bible studies and get-togethers they host for guys on the team and at hotels on road trips.

“You don’t just get that spiritual leadership role by raising your hand or claiming the spot,” Deal adds. “You earn it by having a consistent [life] of integrity. Adrian has that with his teammates as well as with others around the league.”

“Adrian is…someone I rely on to help me stay on course”

Teammate Chase Headley says, “Adrian is a tremendous person, someone I rely on to help me stay on course with my walk with the Lord. He is always taking the lead for planning Bible studies. He and I will get together to decide how we will proceed with doing Bible studies with the rest of the guys on the team. You can really tell how he puts the Lord number one before anything else in his life including his career in baseball. You just see the way he goes about his business and how important it is for him to represent the Lord the right way.”

Gonzalez, who was born in California, but lived in Tijuana, Mexico until the age of 13, says, “Since [Betsy and I] have been in baseball, we have been involved in several ministries such as Baseball Chapel and Unlimited Potential, Inc. (UPI). We put ourselves around people who will help us grow in our relationship with the Lord. Now I try to live [as He would have me to live] every day and to let others see my walk so others can come to Christ. Anytime I can share in public I try to take advantage of that as Christ would want me to do. I try to do what I can to lead others to Christ.”

“It is cool to see a superstar stay humble”

Pastor Miles McPherson of the church, The Rock in San Diego, where Gonzalez and his wife have attended, says, “Adrian has a strong foundation that runs deep and consistent with his commitment to Christ. His faith is unwavering, and he is very responsive when called upon to serve.”

Brian Hommel from Unlimited Potential says, “Adrian does not allow the game to change who he really is. He does not allow the game to determine his significance in the world. He finds that in Christ. It is cool to see a superstar with his talent continue to stay humble. UPI goes on missionary trips to several countries to participate in clinics and share the gospel, and Adrian has been a part of some of these trips. He also has gone to orphanages to visit kids.”

Kids are a big part of Gonzalez’s ministry

Kids are a big part of Gonzalez’s ministry. Not only does he work with kids in clinics, but he and his brothers, David Jr. and Edgar, along with his parents, started the Gonzalez Baseball Academy to help instruct kids in proper mechanics and fundamentals of baseball. They also take the time to share their love for Christ.

When asked how Christ has changed or shaped his life, Gonzalez said it has affected his life “in about every way, including being the best husband to my wife as possible and striving to be the best person I can be; also, in my attitude in baseball,” he adds. “It used to be if I went 0-4, I’d be mad; if I went 4 for 4, I’d be happy. Now it does not matter. Now it is in my attitude toward Christ. I read a golf book called ‘Seven Days at the Links of Utopia’ by David L. Cook. There is a line in it that I translate into baseball terms: ‘Success is not dictated in a box score, it is dictated by one’s attitude toward Christ that day.’”

By freelance writers Mark E. Darnall & Bruce A. Darnall

Photo Credit: Andy Hayt/San Diego Padres

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